virginia, ever enshrined

Virginia Delegate Dave Marsden introduced House Bill 2662 to the 2007 Virginia legislature to make "Virginia, Ever Enshrined" the official state song of Virginia.  The House Rules Committee members listened and sang along, and then referred it to the Hanger Commission.  And there it hangs.  Virginia has not had an official song since retiring "Carry Me Back To Old Virginia" in 1997.

If you are a Virginia resident and would like this song approved as the official State song, please contact your legislator as well as Senator Emmett Hanger. Go to http://legis.state.va.us/. Under QUICK LINKS, click on "Who's My Legislator" and type in your address.

Or go straight to this state form type in your address. It's an easy way to instantly email both your State Delegate and Senator. THANK YOU!


Virginia, Ever Enshrined (pop version, sung by Doug Traxler)
Play Song | Stop

Virginia, Ever Enshrined (choral version, performed at the College of William & Mary)
Play Song | Stop

Virginia, Ever Enshrined Video Clip

Music and lyrics by Carol Boyd Leon

Virginia, where the rolling mountains capture the eye,
Virginia, where the songbirds serenade the clear blue sky.
Virginia, where the crystal streams cross valleys so wide,
Deep within my heart is where you’ll always reside.

Democracy’s cradle, we hold you to be,
America’s birthplace, the home of liberty.
Provenance of Presidents throughout our history.
Your sons and daughters show the world
That people must live free.

The colors of the Shenandoah stay always in my mind,
The salty air of Chesapeake I’ll never leave behind,
The pioneering spirit of the Blue Ridge you will find
Within the soul of this Virginian ever enshrined.

Music © 2004, lyrics © 2006 by Carol Boyd Leon (ASCAP)
All rights reserved.

Pop version: Adrian A. Durlester, arrangement and keyboard. Doug Traxler, vocals.
Recorded at Cue Recording, Falls Church, VA, January 2007.

Choral version: Sarah Brett England, choral arrangement and piano.
Kylie Alder, Lewis Feemster, Kent Fogg, Stephen Pasterchick, Christina Pinnell,
Dan Plehal, Maura Roche, and Sara Strehle, vocals.
Recorded at the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, February 2006.
Special thanks to Professor Gary Green and all the musicians on both recordings.